SEDGEFIELD ENERGY SWITCH

Sedgefield households have saved, on average, over £178 each per year.

About The Energy Switch

Sedgefield Energy Switch is a new initiative from Sedgefield Development Trust. Working together with iChoosr, we're trying to help Sedgefield residents save money on their domestic gas and electricity bills. So far Sedgefield households have saved, on average, over £178 each per year, simply by switching their energy tariff or supplier through the scheme.

How To Register

Registration is very simple and can be done in one of two ways. If you are happy to register on line yourself simply click on the ‘REGISTER NOW’ button and then follow the link. If you prefer to register and receive information through the post, or need any assistance, please call the Sedgefield Development Trust Helpline on 07980 134 594

Registering for the energy switch commits you to absolutely nothing. Once registration closes, there is a tendering process after which you will receive a personal offer. You then simply choose to accept or not, if you think it is worth it.

Key Facts

Savings of over £180,000 has been achieved by the residents of Sedgefield

Registrations for the scheme now exceed 1640

Over 790 people have switched

The highest individual saving is in excess of £800

£178 has been the average saving in Sedgefield

Sedgefield still continue to have the highest switching rate in the country

Energy Switch Results

Having now completed our third year of energy switching we are pleased to be able to report that during the last year, which has been the most challenging due to increasing energy costs, more people have registered for the scheme this year than in either of the two previous years. Over 500 people registering and of those more than 200 switched.

It is also very pleasing to see that more and more people, once having joined the scheme, stay with the scheme as it appears to offer a very effective and hassle free means of obtaining highly competitive energy prices.

We will continue to provide updates on the scheme both on the website and in the Sedgefield News, but if you require any further information, or help, please call the SDT Helpline on 07980 134 594 or come along to the Sedgefield Farmers Market, on the first Sunday in the month, where the Development Trust have a stall and will help with your queries.

The Development Trust feels that we could achieve even greater levels savings in the village if we could make contact with more residents. There are many active groups in the village and if you would like us to come along to a part of one of your meetings, we could provide more information than we can do via the Sedgefield Website or in the News. If your group would be interested, or if anybody has ideas of how we might communicate the information more effectively, please contact the Helpline.

ALREADY JOINED THE SCHEME, PLEASE READ THIS!

If you have joined the switching scheme already, your contract with your new energy provider is only for a period of 12 months from the date you switched. If you wish to continue to be a part of the scheme and hopefully continue to save on your energy bills you will need to register again before your contract comes to an end. That end date will be shown on any of your statements you have received from your energy provider.

Why do I need to do this?

The tariff which you have enjoyed, that reduced your energy costs, was a result of the auction when you originally registered. That tariff only lasts for 12 months, after that period your energy company would offer you one of their alternative tariffs, which may not be as good as the tariff you have had through the Sedgefield Switching Scheme.

How will I Know This?

You will also receive a letter from your energy provider about 7 weeks before your contract end date, which will give you options of their alternative tariffs and what your estimated yearly costs would be. A comparison much the same as the personal offer you received when you joined the switching scheme. In our experience it is very likely that the alternative will be more expensive that your present tariff.

If it is more expensive what should I do?

Register again with the scheme, just as you did when you joined the scheme originally. It will give you another option which we would hope would be better than the alternatives you have been offered.

When should I register again?

The Auctions are normally held three times a year, October, February and May with the start of registration normally about 8 weeks before. So, as an example, if you joined our scheme in May last year you should register again for the May auction this year, the registration period being open from 23rd March. Similarly if you joined in October last year you should look to register again from August this year or if you joined in February this year it would be December this year. Details of the registration periods and auction dates will be provided on this website and in the Sedgefield News. If you have missed your registration already, register again as soon as you can.

What should I do if I haven't had a letter from my Energy Company?

Still register because you will receive it before you have to make the decision of what you are going to do when your existing contract comes to an end.

Is there an exit fee?

Exit fees can only be applied if you have more than 7 weeks left on your contract. They also don’t apply, at any time, if you are only switching tariff with the same supplier. So if the winner of the auction happened to be your current supplier you can switch at any time and you would not pay any exit fees.

IF YOU ARE UNSURE, THE SDT HELPLINE, 07980 134 594, IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO HELP

Sedgefield Development Trust

SDT is a registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee and is owned and controlled by the community.

SDT is a member of the Development Trusts Association. Developed by Sedgefield Development Trust Limited. Company No 4312745. Charity No 1100906.